We went to the San Diego Zoo a few times while on our mission, so we decided to go back there for old time's sake.
Even though we are not big animal lovers, we find it quite relaxing to look at the animals in the zoo. Maybe because they are in enclosures and are not charging at us or coming up to smell or lick us.
We watched the sword-nosed alligators for a long time as they were cohabitating so nicely with the turtles, fish, and birds in their enclosure.
We enjoyed a little refreshment at the zoo to hold us over for the big meal we had been waiting soooo long to consume.
We absolutely LOVE their delicious ribs. We noticed the quantity of ribs and the price of ribs have increased greatly. But, we both absolutely enjoyed every single bite!! YUMMY!!!!
The next day we drove an hour from Ramona into San Diego where we went to Balboa Park. We walked all around getting some exercise and we went to a couple of museums.
One was the Museum of Us.
This statement was interesting...
Included in the price was another building across the road which was the Cannibals Museum--Myth and Reality.
Time for a treat. We used to take our assistants to Ghirardelli to get ice cream when we were down in San Diego between dropping off the departing missionaries at the airport and picking up the incoming missionaries. 
The train layouts were very expansive and elaborate, often in replica of real cities, towns and mountains. 
We walked through the Japanese Friendship Garden.
It's probably hard to believe, but the ribs were so good and we had been craving them so much since moving back to Utah that we wanted to go to Coyote Bar and Grill in Carlsbad ONE MORE TIME while we were in the area.
This time we got there a little later than the night before and we were able to not only enjoy the tasty ribs, but we were also able to enjoy the live music that plays every night in their outdoor seating area.
People were just starting to arrive and stake out their seats so they could listen to the music while they were eating. Some even love to get up and dance to the music.
The sea lions are always a highlight towards the end of our walk around the harbor. The floating platform was loaded with them.
That was a treat that definitely did not disappoint.
We went back to Balboa Park to do some more sight-seeing. We really enjoyed the Model Railroad Museum.
There were men sitting in the middle of all the train action working the switchboards at each of the displays.
This guy named Shotgun Tom Kelly was talking with the visitors that were passing by. We learned all the train people are volunteers who have an obsession with model trains.
This is Shotgun Tom's elaborate model train set-up at his home. It sits atop his pool table and he has fashioned hydraulic lifts to lift it up when he wants to use the pool table.
He is a radio and television personality, hence all the photos of various celebrities and his awards are posted all around.
We loved that model train museum! The whole time we were there, I kept thinking about Sarah's son Lincoln who loves trains. He would have been in heaven there!
More walking around Balboa Park looking at artwork.
Then it was time to make the hour-long drive from San Diego to Carlsbad once again.
We drove past the San Diego Temple and saw all the scaffolding on the exterior of the beautiful, sacred edifice. We were sad the temple is closed for several years for renovation and we weren't able to go inside while we were there.
It is such a fun vibe outside, and it's like dinner and a show watching the people dancing. LOVE that place!!!!
We made the hour-long drive back to Ramona, picked up our fireplace log at the office (one allotted per day), and fired it up once we got back to our place. I loved our nightly fire in the fireplace.
The next morning we made another hour-long drive to Oceanside where we walked around Oceanside Harbor.
That was one of our favorite morning walk destinations on our preparation days when we had a little more time to venture farther away from walking in our neighborhood.
They remind us of children who are always squawking at each other and fighting and playing with each other.
This day was no different. There were some very vocal ones who were loudly barking away. On opposite corners of the platform there were the bullies that kept pushing other sea lions off the platform and not letting them even get up on the platform.
Very entertaining!
I don't think I have raved yet over the palm trees. Love them!!!
We drove by the Kook statue in Cardiff. It usually has some kind of costume or decoration, but this time it was bare.
Our last evening in Southern California was spent going on a double dinner date with Marc and Karen Davis. He was our Area Seventy and whenever we attended meetings with him, he was so delightful.
We made a stop in Carlsbad at the strawberry fields to buy more strawberries to last us through the following week's breakfasts.
We took a drive down the ocean highway. We love driving through the coastal cities and looking out at the ocean views.
He presented us with a big, lovely painting of the San Diego Temple when we were leaving our mission. It is now hanging in our living room and we love it.
They chose The Barn for our dining location. It was close to Ramona, which made it nice for a much shorter drive back to our place.
We decided to make our exit when the younger crowd started descending on the restaurant anxious for the line dancing to begin.
Marc and Karen are nervously/anxiously awaiting July when they report to Africa as they have been called to be the new mission leaders of the Africa Zimbabwe Mission.
It was so interesting talking to them about their upcoming mission and hear their fears and also their excitement for this big undertaking in their near future.
We appreciated not having to drive on the dark, winding, mountainous road back to our place that night.
It was time to pack up. We were getting ready to bid our lodging, the city of Ramona, and Southern California farewell.
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